No. 50 Tech records three singles wins in loss at Clemson

The Hokies suffered a 4-3 setback vs. the Tigers this afternoon

March 12, 2017

	F
(8) Duke	13
Virginia Tech	7
Box Score

BLACKSBURG – The No. 50-ranked Virginia Tech women’s tennis team claimed three of six singles matches against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foe Clemson, but ultimately fell short in another close battle on the road by a score of 4-3, at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center in Clemson, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon.

Tech (7-5, 0-3 ACC) switched up the doubles lineup for the first time in ACC play, as senior Francesca Fusinato and junior Caroline Daxhelet paired up at the No. 1 slot to record Tech’s lone victory of the day. The Hokie duo only gave up two games in the process, upsetting Clemson’s No. 35 Ayan Broomfield and Marie Leduc by a score of 6-2.

In singles action, freshman Natalie Novotna made quick work of her opponent to tie the match at one all. Novotna, ranked No. 99 in the country, only gave up one game, defeating Clemson’s Fernanda Navarro in straight sets (6-0, 6-1). Of note, the Czech Republic native recorded her 11th straight victory of the season – a team-best mark.

With the match tied at one apiece, the Hokies then dropped back-to-back matches at the No. 3 and No. 4 position, respectively, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

Leduc bested junior Elena Cerezo-Codina in a three-set battle on court three. Cerezo-Codina dropped the first set, but bounced back in set two, forcing a three-set tiebreaker. Unfortunately, Cerezo-Codina could not pull off the come-from-behind victory, eventually falling to Leduc by a score of 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Daxhelet also stumbled in a three-set match on court four, falling to Clemson’s Sydney Riley (2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)).

No. 93 Fusinato cut the Hokies deficit to one with a victory over No. 77 Broomfield on court one (7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-1)). Of note, Fusinato topped her fifth ranked opponent of the season and has won five of her last six singles matches at the No. 1 position.

Trailing the Tigers 3-2, freshman Nancy Ghanem stumbled against Clemson’s Constanza Gorches on court five (7-5, 6-1). With the victory, Gorches clinched the Tigers fourth-match point on the day.

Senior Sansitha Nandakumar closed out the match by defeating Clemson’s A Miller-Krasilnikov in a three-set tiebreaker (2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8)) to make the final score 4-3.

With Sunday’s loss, Clemson (5-7, 2-3 ACC) now holds a 19-4 all-time series advantage over the Hokies.

The Hokies will return home after a three-match road swing to face No. 34 Wake Forest on Sunday, March 19. The match is set to begin at 10 a.m. inside the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.

Fans can follow all the action during each match of the 2017 season by following the squad on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Doubles Competition:

No. 1: Caroline Daxhelet/Francesca Fusinato (Tech) def. #35 Ayan Broomfield/Marie Leduc (CU), 6-2

No. 2: Constanza Gorches/Sydney Riley (CU) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina/Natalie Novotna (Tech), 6-3

No. 3: Fernanda Navarro/Daniela Ruiz (CU) def. Katherine Butler/Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech), 6-0

Singles Competition:

No. 1: #93 Francesca Fusinato (Tech) def. #77 Ayan Broomfield (CU), 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-1

No. 2: #99 Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Fernanda Navarro (CU), 6-0, 6-1

No. 3: Marie Leduc (CU) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina (Tech), 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

No. 4: Sydney Riley (CU) def. Caroline Daxhelet (Tech), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)

No. 5: Constanza Gorches (CU) def. Nancy Ghanem (Tech), 7-5, 6-1

No. 6: Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech) def. A Miller-Krasilnikov (CU), 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8)

Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,3,4,1,5,6)

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WTennis